How to Live a Longer, Pain-Free Life, Unfortunately Only for Bearings

And how do you prevent the unpredictable failures and unreliability which always cause the most pain in production?

The length of a bearing’s life depends on many different factors: design, quality, operating conditions, load cycles and more.

However, with the help of NSK’s Asset Improvement Programme (AIP), you can give any bearing the chance of a longer, healthier life. And by improving machine reliability as a result, unlock additional profitability too.

Where does it hurt?

Whatever the reasons for premature bearing wear or bearing failure, they all end up in unreliability and high production costs. Sometimes problems can go undetected for years – all the time driving up costs and reducing profitability. Identifying the contributing factors, and finding the most effective bearing solution, can be tricky.

NSK experts use the NSK AIP Value Cycle – a standardised, tried and tested process – to take a closer look at your working practices, production processes and choice of bearings

Laser treatment for less fatigue

Over 50% of machines run out of alignment – causing higher loading, which in turn leads to lower overall performance and decreased efficiency. In fact, a shaft or belt system which is just 0.1% out of alignment results in a bearing life just 50% of the calculated fatigue life.

Laser alignment tools for drive belts and shafts are valuable weapons in NSK’s bearing care armoury. They provide a highly effective way to minimise losses, and ensure optimum machine performance with the lowest energy consumption.

Accurate alignment is difficult using traditional methods, yet today’s manufacturing environment demands fast, precise, machinery set-up. NSK laser alignment tools make it easier and quicker to be accurate, which:

• increases bearing lifetime
• increases machinery uptime and productivity
• reduces wear on machinery components
• reduces energy consumption
• reduces vibration and noise

Stuck between flaws

If there’s one application where unreliability isn’t an option, it’s a lift. So when an international manufacturer of gearboxes for lifts started experiencing irregular and unscheduled product stoppages during operation, they called in NSK as soon as possible.

NSK engineers investigated, and traced the problem to a complex, difficult to assemble bearing arrangement, which was resulting in inconsistent product performance.

The problem was handed over to NSK’s machine design consultancy service, who designed a far simpler solution. The upgraded component now features a fully integrated two-row flanged bearing assembly unit in a compact sealed design. The design also incorporates a 40° contact angle for high axial forces.

This bearing unit not only reduces the number of components - making it easier to assemble as a result - but also provides far superior performance. As an additional benefit, the reduction in component count allows for supplier rationalisation.